Why is this work relevant for Innovation?

To solve the global problem of serious ocean garbage, we built innovative boats to collect floating garbage in a way that has not been possible before. This boat does not use just 1 gram of fossil fuel. As a result, it does not emit ANY carbon while cleaning-up. Solar technology makes it possible. It is still only a small start, but we are confident that it is the most eco-friendly and innovative clean-up method. The Hanwha Solar Boat is a genuine innovation in that it changed the behavior of those who have dumped garbage in rivers for generations.

Background

Ocean garbage is globally a serious problem. 88%~95% of the ocean garbage is coming from the 10 rivers of Asia and Africa. The Mekong River is a transboundary river originating from China, passing through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia and finally through Vietnam to the sea. Vietnam is the last stand of floating garbage from six countries before it goes to sea. However, The Vietnamese dumped garbage into the Mekong River and believed that the river becomes clean soon because it flows fast into the sea. Hanwha is pursuing a solar energy business in Vietnam, and as a member of the community, it has come up with a "clean-up Mekong" campaign with ideas that can solve Vietnamese environmental problems and even global ocean garbage problems.

Describe the idea

To collect floating garbage from the Mekong River in Vietnam, which is about to flow into the sea, we built a Solar Boat with Hanwha's photovoltaic solution technology. Also, the key strategy in designing clean-up Mekong campaign and implementing them was to "find the ultimate eco-friendly way." The majority of environmental campaigns to protect the planet err on the other side inadvertently pollute the planet. It is a mistake of the organization to carry out clean-up activities in which the ship of the group for the environmental movement runs the fossil fuel, discharges oil residue in the sea, emits carbon into the air, or collects garbage by using disposable products. Under this strategy, solar boat does not use just 1 gram of fossil fuel. Instead, only solar energy operates the boat and runs the conveyor belt to collect floating garbage. As a result, it emits nothing harm to the earth.

What were the key dates in the development process?

- October 29, 2018: Boat maker Kickoff Meeting - November 24, 2018: Solar Boat Specifications Meeting - Nov.-Dec. 2018: Sola boat design consultation - December 2018 to February 2018: Basic manufacturing work on the hull - December 13, 2018: Hanwha Q Cell Solar Module Performance Test - December 31, 2018: Confirming Instrument panel function and design - January 2019: Determination and fabrication of design of boat roof structure with solar module - January 1, 2019 – February 1, 2019: Designing and manufacturing conveyor devices - January 7, 2019 – February 19, 2019: Ship motor design/buying/installation/testing work - Jan. 14, 2019 – Jan. 18, 2019: Shipboard electrical wiring work - Jan. 14, 2019 – Feb. 1, 2019: Exterior design consultation and some wrapping work - February 4, 2019 – February 13, 2019: Final ship assembly work - Feb. 12, 2019: Solar Boat Inspection - Feb. 15, 2019 : Conveyor unit operation test (water tank) - Feb. 20, 2019 - Feb. 21, 2019: Korea Ship Safety Technology Authority (KST) Certification Test and Test-drive (Sea) - March 15, 2019: Receiving KST certificates - March 16, 2019 – May 2, 2019: Functional testing and detailed complement work - March 28-29, 2019: Test drive (sea) - May 3, 2019: Exports of two solar boats - May 28, 2019 – June 4 : Test drive (Mekong River)

Describe the innovation/technology

The size of the Hanwha Solar Boat is 6.45 meters in length, 2.3 meters in width and 2.6 meters in height, with a maximum output of 4.4 kW, which can be operated at a speed of 6.4 knot. The boat is equipped with collection guards and conveyor devices to collect floating garbage. While the boat is moving, it can carry the conveyor unit up to reduce the resistance of the water, or when it wants to collect trash, it can be adjusted to reach the river by lowering the conveyor unit. The boat is also designed to collect garbage by traveling across the Mekong River with solar energy alone. Five solar modules are installed on the boat roof, which utilizes Hanwha's high-performance solar modules, Hanwha Q CELLS' Q.PEAK DUO solar modules, to ensure high energy efficiency. The battery room inside the boat has a total of eight batteries, which store the electrical energy generated by the Solar Module and then use it as a power source for the motor to move the boat or operate a conveyor to collect trash.

Describe the expectations/outcome

- From the donation of solar boat(June 5th 2019, World Environments day) to the present, we have collected a lot of floating garbage contributing to solving the environmental problems of the Mekong River and ocean garbage. It also reminds residents of the Mekong River area of the importance of the environment. - Through the digital campaign and film, we achieved 23 million Impressions, 10 million views, and more than 80,000 reactions (total interaction including like, comment, share). It is particularly encouraging that this campaign has led to an active debate on environmental issues, renewable energy, and especially importance of solar energy among Vietnamese netizens. - With the disclosure of the Vietnamese press (more than 38 cases) and the global press (more than 92 cases), it has attracted not only Vietnam but also the world. - Vietnam’s other provinces and other countries request the Hanwha solar boat.